Pleione 6(2): 432 - 434. 2012. ISSN: 0973-9467 © East Himalayan Society for Spermatophyte Taxonomy Aglaia perviridis Hiern (Meliaceae): an IUCN Red-Listed Vulnerable species recorded first time from Mizoram, India Dilip Kr. Roy1, Bipin Kr. Sinha and M. Sawmliana2 Botanical Survey of India, Eastern Regional Centre, Shillong-793003, Meghalaya, India 2Forest Department, Govt. of Mizoram, West Chandmari, Aizowl-796007, Mizoram, India 1Corresponding author: E-mail:[email protected] [Received Revised 12.11.2012; Accepted 12.11.2012] Abstract Aglaia perviridis Hiern (Meliaceae) has been collected from Thenhlum (ca. 700 masl), Mizoram which forms a new distributional record to the State. The species is of great concern as it is included in the IUCN vulnerable category. It is known that the ripe fruits of the plant are eaten by forest dwellers. Detailed botanical citation, taxonomic description, distribution and uses are presented in this paper. Key words: Aglaia perviridis, IUCN, Vulnerable, New record, Mizoram, India. INTRODUCTION The genus Aglaia Loureiro (Meliaceae) is represented by ca 100 species in the World (Jain & Bennet 1997). Phytogeographically these species are mainly distributed in Indo-Malaysian region, Australia, Melanesia and Polynesia. In India the genus is represented by ca 23 species (Jain & Bennet 1997). Whereas, Aglia chittagona Miquel, A. edulis (Roxburgh) A. Gray and A. spectabilis (Miquel) S.S. Jain & Bennet are the three species of the genus previously reported from the State of Mizoram (Singh 2002; Sawmliana 2003). During floristic survey, one of us (MS) collected an interesting plant specimen of the genus Aglaia Loureiro from Thenhlum (Mizoram) at an elevation of ca. 700 masl. After detailed study of the specimen and scrutinizing available literatures (Hooker 1875; Kanjilal et al 1936; Jain & Bennet 1997; Singh 2002; Sawmliana 2003) at BSI, ERC, Shillong, the specimen was identified as Aglaia perviridis Hiren and confirmed that the plant had not been reported earlier from the state of Mizoram, and it is also interesting to note that this species is included under the ‘Threatened category’ (Jain & Sastry 1980) and in IUCN red list of threatened plants (Pannel 1998). Based on the above facts it is necessary to provide detailed information like taxonomic citation, description, phenology, distribution and photographs (Fig.-1) along with uses of this threatened taxon for its easy identification, and to facilitate for ex-situ and in-situ conservation. Aglaia perviridis Hiern in J.D. Hooker, Fl. Brit. India. 1: 556. 1875; Kanjilal et al, Fl. Assam 1: 239. 1937; Jain & Bennet in Hajra (ed), Fl. India 4: 473 – 474. 1997. Vernacular Names: Luak-Thei (Mizo); Thaidou-brekibuphang (Kach). Trees, 12 – 16 m high; bark grayish brown, rough aromatic; branchlets dark gray, rusty- tomentose. Leaves 30 – 50 cm long; leaflets 9 – 15, opposite to subopposite, lanceolate or Dilip Kr. Roy et al 433 Print in B&W Fig. 1: Aglaia perviridis Hiern: Photograph of herbarium specimen. 434 Record of Aglaia perviridis from Mizoram ovate-lanceolate to ovate-oblong, 7 – 16 x 1.5 – 5.5 cm, entire, acuminate, obtuse or tapering at base, lepidote when young, glabrous afterwards; secondary nerves 14 – 20 on each side of midvein; petiolules 0.5 – 0.7 cm long. Panicles axillary, 20 – 30 cm, lepidote when young; bracts and bracteoles lanceolate. Flowers minute, white. Calyx 5-teethed, glabrous, lobes rounded with ciliate margin. Petals 5, free, imbricate. Stamens 5; anthers ovate, acute. Ovary glabrous. Berries asymmetrically ellipsoid, ca 2.5 – 3.0 cm long, covered with dense ferruginous scales, 1-seeded; seeds with a yellowish fleshy aril. Flowering: April – July; Fruiting: September – December Exsiccatae: Mizoram: Thenhlum (ca. 700 m amasl), M. Swamliana 5, Acc. No. 79992 (ASSAM). Distribution: INDIA: Assam, Meghalaya, and West Bengal; now in Mizoram.BANGLADESH, BHUTAN, CHINA, PENINSULAR MALAYSIA, THAILAND and VIETNAM. Uses: The ripe fruits are eaten by the forest dwellers. Acknowledgements Authors are thankful to Dr. P. Singh, Director, Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata for encouragement and facilities. LITERATURE CITED Hooker, J.D. 1875. The Flora of British India. Vol. I. L. Reeve & Co. Ltd., Ashford, Kent, London. Pp. 556. Jain, S.S. & Bennet, S.S.R. 1997. Meliaceae, In: Hajra, P. K. et al. (Eds.) Flora of India Vol. IV. Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta. Pp. 473 – 474. Jain, S.K. & Sastry, A.R.K. 1980. Threatened plants of India: A state-of-the Art Report. Botanical Survey of India, Howrah. Pp. 12. Kanjilal, U.N.; Kanjilal, P.C.; Das, A. & Purkayastha, C. 1936. Flora of Assam. Vol. I, Part 2. Govt. of Assam, Shillong. Pp. 239. Pannel, C.M. 1998. Aglaia perviridis. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. (www.iucnredlist.org). Sawmliana, M. 2003. The Books of Mizoram plants. P. Zakluma, Chandmari West, Aizowl, Mizoram. Singh, K.P. 2002. Family Meliaceae, In: Singh, N. P. et al. (Eds.) Flora of Mizoram. Vol. I. Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata. Pp. 329 – 344..